The BJP and the Congress are locked in a fierce political row over a viral video from the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the AICC

 The BJP and the Congress are locked in a fierce political row over a viral video from the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi. The controversy erupted on August 15, 2026, when a video surfaced online appearing to show senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge making hand gestures while the national song, Vande Mataram, was being performed. 

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress leadership of disrespecting the national song, while the Congress has dismissed the allegations as completely misrepresented and taken out of context. 

The Two Conflicting Perspectives

• The BJP's Allegations: BJP spokespersons shared the event footage on social media platforms like X, alleging that Sonia Gandhi became visibly upset or uncomfortable when the full version of Vande Mataram was sung. Critics and BJP leaders claimed that the Gandhi family and Kharge were gesturing for the workers to stop the rendition after the initial stanzas, framing it as "vote-bank politics" and a disrespect to the country's freedom fighters. 

• The Congress's Clarification: Senior Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, strongly refuted the claims. The party clarified that there was absolutely no attempt to stop the national song, which was eventually completed in full. According to the Congress, Sonia Gandhi was simply gesturing to party workers to arrange a chair for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for a long time during the event. 

Underlying Context

This controversy unfolds right after the Indian Parliament recently passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which legally elevates the status of Vande Mataram on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. This legislative backdrop has amplified the sensitivity around how political figures respond during its public renditions. 

Watch these reports and viral clips from the Independence Day event to see the details of the incident: